$100,000 Mitole weanling tops penultimate session at Keeneland November sale

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A $100,000 colt from the first crop of champion Mitole led the penultimate session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale on Thursday as the sale moved toward its finale eyeing record figures.

Keeneland reported that 289 horses sold Thursday, the ninth of 10 sessions overall and the middle of three Book 5 sessions to close out this sale, for gross receipts of $3,931,400. The session's average price was $13,603, with a median of $9,000.

There are no truly comparable year-to-year, session-to-session figures for these final three days of the sale, as last year Keeneland November's horses of racing age offerings were spread out across the final days of the sale, adding intrigue to each place they appeared. For example, last year's ninth session was led by $525,000 Hidden Scroll, leading to a $26,378 average. This year, those horses of racing age have been consolidated into a single session, in Friday's finale, meaning this year's 10th-session figures will likely skyrocket past last year's different types of offerings on that day.

To this point of the auction, Keeneland reports that 2,239 horses have sold for gross receipts of $194,463,100, compared to 1,984 sold for $149,709,700 through eight sessions last year. This sale has already far surpassed 2020's final gross of $151,017,300. The cumulative average price is currently $86,853, tracking upward 15 percent from $75,459 at the comparable point last year.

The median sits at $40,000, up 40 percent from $28,500. Barring a precipitous drop-off in the final session, the sale is eyeing a record figure for the median, considered a crucial figure in assessing market health since it is not affected by outlying prices in the way the average can be. The November sale's record median is $35,000, first achieved in 2005 and matched in 2006, 2007, 2013, and 2014.

The overall buyback rate currently sits at 18 percent, slightly improved from 20 percent.

The session-leading Mitole colt was purchased by Rexy Bloodstock, from the consignment of Hill 'n' Dale Sales, as agent. This is the first crop of weanlings for Mitole, who, in his championship season, won four Grade 1 races, including the Metropolitan Handicap and the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

The colt is out of the Candy Ride mare Waltzing, whose lone starter is a winner. Waltzing is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Dancing Solo and to Grade 1-placed Dancing. Their dam, Dancing Alone, is a full sister to Grade 1 winner Voodoo Dancer, the dam of stakes winner Voodoo Storm. This also is the immediate family of Grade 1 winner Pool Play.

The Keeneland November sale concludes Friday, with the final broodmare and weanling offerings immediately followed by the selection of active racing stock.

For hip-by-hip results, click here.